Pittsburgh Steelers: Fantasy Football Preview
Quarterback: Pittsburgh figures to be a run-first offense once again this season, but Ben Roethlisberger will still be a viable fantasy starter. He finished 13th among quarterbacks last year and should be around that mark again. Big Ben is reliable and durable and is usually drafted around round eight or later, allowing you to shore up other positions first. He’s not a bad option at QB if you have a talented team everywhere else.
Running Back: Pittsburgh’s position battle at RB is pushing both Steeler running backs down the draft boards. Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall seem destined for a platoon. It’s also not clear whom the Steelers intend to use near the goal-line. Someone will have value in Pittsburgh’s offensive attack, it’s just too early to tell whom that will be. Training camp might help to clear things up.
Tight end: Heath Miller is a quality tight end that loses a little bit of value because the Steelers have so many weapons. He finished 15th in a point-per-catch league last year and it’s hard to imagine him doing too much better this year. The Steelers have plenty of targets in the passing game and Matt Spaeth will steal a couple of touchdowns as well this year. Miller is a fringe starter who will probably be steady but not spectacular.
Receivers: Is this the year Santonio Holmes outscores Hines Ward? Maybe. Ward is not getting any quicker these days, but he still manages to produce fantasy points in bunches, especially in a PPR league. Holmes may surpass him this season, but expect Hines to once again haul in more touchdown receptions. That was one reason Ward was more than 50 points better than Holmes in total fantasy points last year in a PPR league. Pittsburgh’s wild card is Limas Sweed, who should fill Nate Washington’s role as a deep threat. Sweed is probably not worth drafting, but keep an eye on him early in the season as a potential free agent pickup.
Defense, Kicker: Pittsburgh’s defense is good and Jeff Reed is solid, but fill out the other positions first. Trust me on that one.